The Department for Children, Schools and Families has been piloting multi-dimensional treatment foster care in England for the past four years. It is an intensive form of foster care imported from the US, which includes discipline training for carers.
But Association of Directors of Children's Services spokesman Andrew Christie said even pilot councils, such as Hammersmith & Fulham, where he is children's services director, have trouble accessing treatment. "We were knocked back a number of times. The criteria says children should be willing and ready, but lack of willingness and readiness is why they need this treatment in the first place."
An interim report in 2006 said, of the 73 children involved in the pilot, two returned to their birth family and 16 moved to mainstream placements. However, there are still no plans for a national rollout.
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